Featured Image Photo Credit: Pretty Instant
Kevin S. Clancy, Beat Writer Boston Cannons
Lacrosse is Awesome
The Boston Cannons (2-4) welcomed the Denver Outlaws (5-1) Saturday night June 3, to Harvard Stadium. Boston was just coming off a 16-13 victory at home against the New York Lizards. Denver had just suffered their first loss in 2017 against the Rattlers on May 27. In 2016, the Outlaws went 8-6 after defeating the Lizards on June 24, 2016 and went undefeated for the remainder of the season, including winning the MLL Championship. Final Score: Outlaws 19—Cannons 13.
The first quarter started quickly for the Cannons with two quick Denver turnovers and two goals by Boston’s Davey Emala #0 and Justin Turri #2. Denver methodically worked the ball free for two goals of their own. Denver’s Drew Snider had an explosive cross in front switching hands and side arm goal of his own. With five minutes to go in the first Boston fans saw a 3-3 tie broken by Denver taking a 4-3 lead. Less than one minute remaining in the first and Emala would get the assist from Boston’s favorite son Brodie Merrill, famous for his 90 something two pointers last year tying the game with zero on the clock. Score at the end of one tied four apiece.
Boston was running hard and playing team ball across the middle with Denver’s goalie taking body saves and the luck of the post ricochets keeping the Cannons out of the Outlaw’s goal. Matt Kavanagh slipped one by Cannon’s goalie Tyler Fiorito to go up 5-4. The Outlaws had momentum after two stops Kelly and an unassisted goal forced over the middle by Eric Law. Denver would go up 6-4 and looked like they had it going. The Cannons would keep the pressure on with a quick goal by Kevin Buchanan, his second of the night and now only down by one with eight minutes to go until the half. Boston would go man up and went for a two pointer. After two tries, Max Seibald let it fly to take the lead 7- 6. With five minutes remaining, what could possibly happen now? Well, how about a couple of goals by Denver’s Law and Kavanagh again! Denver took back the lead 9-8 with a minute left in the half. The lacrosse was exciting and top level Saturday night. After seeing the men’s and women’s NCAA championships last weekend, I realized at what level top ten Collegiate lacrosse plays at and how the pros push it up a couple of notches. The Outlaws would finish the half with University of Denver star Wes Berg squeezing one between the pipes giving Denver a 10-8 lead at the break.
Heading into the third quarter, Denver came out shooting and quickly went up 11-8 frustrating the Cannons. Boston would calm down and Will Manny fed the pass to Justin Turri putting one on the board for the Cannons and bringing them to within two and still enough time with eight minutes to go in the frame. Turri would feed Manny this time trimming the lead to 11-10 Denver. The Outlaws attempted a two pointer but Fiorito kept his eye on the ball and came up with a stellar save. Denver would slip in the side of the crease for a low to high shot to put them up by two with three minutes remaining in the third. Boston had one final chance with a minute remaining but failed to score. Score at the end of three: Outlaws 12—Cannons 10.
Seibald would launch another two pointer to start the fourth tying the game at 12, but Denver continued to attack the crease and quickly scored two goals from the left and right sides, one low and one high. At one point there had been a three point lead by Denver but Boston was determined to keep the game close. Denver would force their way shoulder to shoulder to go three goals ahead yet again, followed by a fast break putting them up by four with exactly 10 minutes to go in the game. Jack Kelly, goalie for the Outlaws was doing an outstanding job standing tall and wide between the pipes, stymieing many goals that if they had gone through would have kept the Cannons close. Unfortunately for Boston, with nine minutes remaining in the contest, Denver had amassed a 17-12 lead and the only way Boston could come back was to play perfect ball for the remainder of the quarter. Wes Berg literally ran over a Denver defenseman and headed to the goal for an unassisted amazing but heartbreaking goal to increase the lead 18-12. Manny and Turri teamed up yet again to stop the Boston drought making the deficit five with seven minutes left. Denver face-off specialist Tommy Kelly would win at X and race to the goal again making it 19-13. Even Brodie Merrill and his long stick two pointers at this juncture was not enough to stave off eventual defeat by the defending champions. The game had actually been closer than the score dictated in the fourth quarter. Both teams played as hard as they could; and the crowd of 4,846 lacrosse fans definitely got their money’s worth on Saturday. The game closed with another save by Kelly and the Outlaws would head home with a win 19-13.
The Cannons (2-4) go on to face the Ohio Machine (4-2) on Saturday June 10 and will try their skills on the Machine.
Kevin S. Clancy, Beat Writer Boston Cannons
Lacrosse is Awesome